The Presidential Daily Brief

intriguing

UEFA Eyes Change to Penalty Shoot-out Format

Nobody should have a leg up. Soccer’s European governing body sees “growing evidence” that the current setup for nail-biting penalty shoot-outs heavily favors the team that kicks first. Today’s “ABAB” format sees the same team make the first kick in each round, leaving their opponents under constant pressure to catch up. Instead, the UEFA will test an “ABBA” format, like a tennis tiebreaker, where sides alternate rounds going first. It debuts at the men’s and women’s European U-17 Championships this month, with an eye to future competitions.